BREAKING

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Thank You to the City of Smiles, the Land of Sweet Surprises and to TPB, Marketing Arm of Department of Tourism


Wazzup Pilipinas!

Salamat po sa opportunity of being part of MICECON 2018. It was definitely an enlightening and pleasurable experience not just because of the new learnings, but most especially because of the new friends or acquiantances I gained throughout the three day event.

I've already uploaded so many videos from the first day of MICECON 2018 to the last, including full speeches of the VIPs and event organizers, interviews with some of the speakers like Jerry Sibal, Anton Diaz, KF Seetoh, and Scott Friedman, on Wazzup Pilipinas official social media accounts mostly on Facebook, and other social media networks we have, and a couple of pre-event articles on our site WazzupPilipinas.com, and would write more post-event articles simultaneously as I upload the remaining contents from my phone, camera and other gadgets I brought with me in Bacolod.



























Since I was also personally toured by Miss Agnes Maranon-Iida, the daughter of the governor of Negros Occidental, Alfredo Maranon Jr, who offered to give me a guided appreciation tour of Sagay city and other areas like the Children's Museum, visit and seafood lunch at Suyac Island Mangrove Eco Park, an interview with master Nunelucio Alvarado and da drink of their ice-blended coffee and some snacks plus fortunate to be given complimentary artworks by the master himself, a tour at Option MFC, their sugar mill, where I witnessed the entire process of creating sugar from sugar cane, step-by-step., ate the Manapla puto directly bought from its original creator plus an interview opportunity, a visit and interview with Mushroom growers at the Organic Farm Festival which was currently happening at the Provincial Capitol grounds, an overnight stay at Natures Village Resort where I had an interview with one of the Organic Farm Festival speakers namely Rei Yoon from Korea promoting Natural farming, a lot better than organic farming, and lastly a night ending with a grand dinner feast with the governor of Negros, his wife and daughters, his sister, niece, son in law, other relatives, and other guests from Japan.

Thank you as well to my designated tour guide on my second extended stay touring other parts of Bacolod city, Ms. Jang Yap, a staff from the Bacolod Tourism Operations Office, through councilors Em Legaspi-Ang and Cindy Tan-Rojas, as well as the Senior Tourism Operations Officer Ms. Elma "Butch" Gerasmo,

We started our tour with visits if the three heritage houses open to the pubic, alson had an interview with the owner of a famous Masskara mask store setup by a consultant and fellow blogger Jojo Vito but ran by his sister-in-law and brother, lunch at El Ideal bakery where we ate their specialties, a visit and effortless stair climb up to the top of the Pope John Paul Tower, a tour at the Panaad Park and stadium showcasing the many structures from different cities of Negros Occidental, witnessing Bacolod's very first Festival of Lights parade, culminating to dinner at Aida's in Manokan Country, before finally going to the airport on the last flight out of Bacolod and back to Manila.

I have plenty more stories, videos and photos to upload and stories to write about Bacolod city and Negros Occidental province to help boost tourism, most especially community - based tourism, in the mentioned places.

As it is more fun in the Philippines not just because of the sights or tourist destinations, but because of the Filipino people, I've also interviewed and showcased as many people involved throughout the events, not just the delegates and speakers but even interviews with the LGU officials and staff, van drivers, hotel staff, artists and business owners, tour guides, etc. so I could give a greater overview of not just the happenings during MICECON 2018, but also of Bacolod city, and Negros Occidetal, etc.

Hoping I would be a part again of not just MICECON but of your other events, whether solely organized or partnered with others.

Thank you once again and congratulations for a very successful MICE2018. Salamat po again sa opportunity of being part of MICECON 2018.

Kudos to the TPB COO Miss Marie Venus "The Goddess" Tan for her active presence at the events up to the farewell dinner and party.

Thank you to Miss Neng Miranda and Miss Christie Navarro for making it possible for me to be included among the invited media from Manila.

Thank you as well to other staff from both TPB, like Patricia or Rica, MICE OIC Miss Baby de Luna-Landan, the staff from Fuentes Manila PR agency, and the Bacolod LGU, like councilors Em Ang and Cindy Rojas, City Administrator Atty Juan Orola Jr, most especially to the Tourism Promotions Office Team, led by Senior Tourism Operations Officer Miss Butch Sycip. Not to forget the honorable Mayor of Bacolod, Evelio "Bing" Leonardia, and his wife, Elsa Jeruta Fuentes

Thank you also to SMX Sales & Marketing VP and PACEOS VP for Suppliers miss Agnes Pacis, PACEOS Chairman Miss Jing Lagandaon, and a lot more people coming from the delegates representing the many travel and tourism business establishments all over the Philippines.

Thank you of course to our dearest Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat for starting this all for me. I hope my aggressiveness to be actively part of your tourism events, programs and other projects, were positively received. My ultimate intention is to sincerely help our country become the most preferred destination by both local and foreign tourists. Even though I am also being tapped by other countries to promote their hotels, resorts, cuisolines and restaurants, and tourist destinations, my heart remains biased to the Philippines as we do have among, if not the bests, world-class destinations.

God bless and more power to all. Maraming Salamat po and hope to see you all again soon. :)

Monday, November 26, 2018

Second APSOP Annual Public Lecture on Political Science


Wazzup Pilipinas!

The biggest gathering of political science majors in the Philippines is on its way!

Hundreds of political science students from different colleges and universities in NCR, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, and as far away as Northern Luzon will be gathering for the “Second APSOP Annual Public Lecture on Political Science” that will be held on December 1, 2018 (Saturday) from 8 am to 12 noon in the Ricardo and Dr. Rosita Leong Hall Auditorium of the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

Organized by the Association of Political Science Organizations of the Philippines (APSOP) in cooperation with the Office of the Associate Dean for the Core Curriculum, Loyola Schools of the Ateneo de Manila University, this gathering will feature a lecture entitled “Filipino Social Democracy and the Struggle for Democratization: History Lessons for the Present Generation.”

APSOP is honored and privileged to have as its Speaker for this lecture, Dr. Benjamin T. Tolosa Jr., a Professor of Political Science at the Department of Political Science, School of Social Sciences in the Ateneo de Manila University. He is also the Associate Dean for the Core Curriculum of the Loyola Schools of the same university.

Dr. Tolosa’s lecture is on the timely topic of social democracy in the Philippines where he will share to the members of the present generation the important historical lessons of the Philippine democratization struggle against the Marcos dictatorship. As Dr. Tolosa’s lecture will emphasize, “(t)he task of defending and deepening democracy – a central tenet of social democracy – has become particularly stark and urgent. And yet because what many citizens experience, including young people, are the obvious flaws of an imperfect democracy, they often become indifferent to it and disengage from the world of politics. Worse, they may even get drawn to authoritarian alternatives.”

APSOP is an association of political science student organizations from different universities in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Its Annual Public Lecture on Political Science is meant to celebrate the discipline of political science in the Philippines, highlight the discipline’s importance in analyzing pressing national issues, and outline the future of Philippine political science.

Getting Ready for MICECon in Bacolod City



Wazzup Pilipinas!

Experiencing again the struggle of packing everything in my best luggage for business travel for a 5 day trip.

What else did I forget to bring with me? Formal long-sleeved polo shirt, formal pants, travel shorts casual round-neck shirts, socks, boxer briefs, face towels, toiletries, a pair of sandals and a pair of leather shoes, aside from the rubber shoes I'm wearing on my way there, a couple of belts, and what else did I miss? or need to bring with me for the 5 day stay in Bacolod? Over packed? Or still not enough?

If I didn't miss anything then it is a definite "See you tomorrow, Bacolod!!!" It is without any doubt that I'm excited. It's not my first time to visit but I'm still thrilled to expert it all over again but with more number of days.

My first time, sponsored by 2Go Travels, was just too short, like just a few hours visiting only a few places like The Ruins at Talisay city, Negros Occidental, or the Nutsberry Garden, remains of a stately Italianate Mansion and ancestral home, that was said to be burned in 1942 by Filipino guerillas who were against Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson and Maria Braga Lacson's approval of letting in Japanese soldiers during the seat of the World War II. It is now a famous tourist spot and has a restaurant and landscaped gardens beside it. We we're toured by a wacky tour guide named Roger. I wonder if he is still there.


It is best to visit at night when it is majestically lighted, to have a romantic dinner and for very Instagrammably dramatic shots.


My camera back then was just a simple point and shoot digital camera powered by 2 AA batteries. Now, smartphones have better cameras.



We also visited Calea Pastries and Coffee, the famous desserts and cake place. 


We also passed by the Provincial Capitol of Occidental Negros.



Since Bacolod is the home of the Masskara Festival we were greeted with a MassKara festival welcome dance during our arrival in Bacolod city coming from Iloilo city.



To know more about my previous Bacolod experience, please click the link below:

I'm soon off to the media / blogger coverage of the Philippine MICE Conference (MICECON), the biggest gathering of Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) professionals. It is a highly anticipated educational event for travel and tourism and MICE practitioners because of its range of topics, quality speakers and themed events. MICECON 2018 will be held on 27-29 November 2018 in the City of Bacolod.

To get to know more about MICECON in Bacolod:

www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2018/11/bacolod-is-ready-for-micecon.html













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But I'm staying for two more days to roam around the City of Smiles (named as because of its MassKara Festival, a Mardi Gras-like festival and a spectacular vivid mix of dance), for my blog / vlog.

Bacolod City, situated on the northwestern part of the island of Negros, is bounded by the Guimaras Strait on the west, the municipality of Talisay on the north, the municipality of Murcia on the east, and Bago City on the South.

Our event venues are the Resorts Negrense and SMX Convention Center of SM City Bacolod.

Visiting Bacolod City won't be complete without a trip to The Ruins of Talisay City, our venue for the farewell dinner with "A Night of Magic and MICE-tery theme and outfit.

While our Mardi Gras-themed Welcome dinner will be at the Bacolod Government Grounds, wearing MassKara-inspired outfits.

Second night Vintage Negros-themed dinner will be at the Provincial Government Grounds with "Roaring Twenties" outfit.

International and local speakers, moderators and VIPs for special messages, would be the city Mayor himself, Hon. Evelio Leonardia; Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer (COO)Marie Venus Tan, Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Policy Formulation and International Cooperation (PFIC) Chief, Alex Macatuno; TPB MICECON 2018 MICE Department OIC, Teresita De Luna-Landan; Philippine Association of Convention Organizers and Suppliers, Inc (PACEOS) Chairman, Jing Lagandaon; MyShelter Foundation and Liter of Light Board Director, Ami Valdemoro; Make A Difference (MAD) International Partnership Head, Sophie Methler; Jackson Consulting, Inc President Liz Jackson; High Performance Strategies CEso, Susan Sarfati; Jerry Sibal Design lLC Founder, Jerry Sibal; Tyler Enslin International Owner, Tyler Enslin; Broadcaster and Presentation Consultant/ Trainer Tina Altieri; Makasuntra Founder KF Seetoh; Our Awesome Planet Founder Anton Diaz; Asia Pacific Events Air Business Development Manager Thomas Gray; Motivational Speaker Grace Gayoso; Amadeus Corporate Marketing and Communications People & Culture, Communications and Brand Asia Pacific Vice President Karin Budhraja; Digichic Integrated Marketing Founder and Managing Director Charise Mason; TTG Asia Global Commerce General Manager Peng Ee Ooi; Gaining Edge (Australia) Asia Senior Manager Jane Vong Holmes; and Chief Motivational Officer and Motivational Humorist Scott Friedman.

A tour for speakers in the morning, and a special pre-conference tour (CSR Activity) of MICECON 2018 will happen in the afternoon of our first day featuring Bong Bong's Piaya and Barquillos and Merzci's Pasalubong to bring speakers and conference delegates to the heart of the production of Bacolod's local delicacies to watch and learn how pasalubong are made, and an opportunity to connect with the underprivileged members of the host destination. Proceeds will go to the charitable institutions namely Holy Infant Nursery Foundation, Inc., Bacolod Girl's Home Foundation, Inc.,; Conference delegates are also encouraged to bring blankets, towels, notebooks, pens, and children's books.

A rolling tour of Bago city will happen in the afternoon of our event second day. The last day will have another special tour for speakers.

It's definitely a jam-packed three-day event, and an additional two days for me to visit the other sites not included in the event itinerary. I am also eager to sample other local delicacies, and cuisines so visiting the foodie areas will be among my target destinations.

Please recommend the other interesting places to visit and local food to eat, and maybe people to interview, in Bacolod so I could maximize my stay there.

Thanks and get ready to do the iconic Wazzup Pilipinas shout-out in Bacolod!!!

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